8/10/2005

Dreaming

Today being one of those days when I don't want to be at work, I started thinking about what I would like to be doing. I thought about my trip to Chicago in either 1983 or 1984 when visiting with my grandfather. My aunt took me to the Art Institute of Chicago. I was in heaven. I was able to see Monet, Manet, and many many others. But the one painting that had the biggest effect on me was Paris Street; Rainy Day by Gustave Caillebotte

I still remember even after all these years walking into the room were the painting hung. It was across the room from the door you entered through. As I walked toward it, I got the sense that I was walking toward the people on that Paris street.

It's funny how art can affect you. But as I sit here at work, I can still remember this one painting with such clarity. So, while I'm here bemoaning the fact that I would rather be elsewhere, I can dream of the day when I can go back to Chicago and visit the Art Institute once again. That would be my dream vacation. Then on to New York, London, and Paris to visit the art museums there. One can always dream.

6 Comments:

That's a beautiful painting. I love the sense of space created by the rendering of the plaza in the distance - the buildings and stone paving draws me back, deep into this gorgeously cool and rainy place. The color of the sky and the facades of the building and the street remind me why I love days like that. There's also a tension between the soft, atmospheric air and the hard and wet stone surfaces that makes me a believer.

Very kind of you to put a link to my blog on your sidebar, especially under a title like "My favorite links!" But you didn't tell me about it so it took until today for me to feature your most excellent blog in a post and on the blogroll.